Former Tennis Star Li Na Says ‘No’ to Full-Time Coaching

Two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na, who had announced her retirement in September last year, repudiated any possibility of taking up full-time coaching of a professional tennis player in the future.

The 33-year-old, however, divulged that she would love to stage a guiding platform for kids and train them, as she plans to open an academy, the preparations of which are already underway.

“The plan to build an academy has been developing over the past year. We are dealing with some practical difficulties that we want to work out before announcing all the details,” China Daily quoted Li.

“I would love to teach kids as a trainer, but I will definitely not be a full-time coach for professional players. After all, I have to take care of my family,” she added.

Li, who was in Zhuhai last week to promote the recently-concluded WTA Elite Trophy 2015, further said that she’s will, in some way, try to become an entrepreneur.

“I will try to reinvent myself as a businesswoman, which might be a pretty big challenge. Every athlete faces new challenges and has to adapt to new roles in life after retirement. Why not trying new things?”